top of page

CPSC Resident Agent for Non-U.S. Importers

CPSC Resident Agent Overview

 

Several CPSC safety standards let an importer rely on the foreign manufacturer's testing to support its certificate of compliance, but only if the importer "is a resident of the United States or has a resident agent in the United States."
If your company imports one of these products and is not based in the U.S., we serve as that resident agent. You get a signed designation letter for your compliance file, and a U.S. address, phone number and email for official communications.
$149 per year, per CPSC standard. All of your product models under one standard are covered by one fee.

Do You Need a CPSC Resident Agent?

​

CPSC has no general requirement for foreign manufacturers to appoint a U.S. agent. You need this service only when all three of these are true:
​
  1. Your product falls under one of the seven standards listed below.
  2. Your company is the importer of record and is not a U.S. resident.
  3. You rely on the foreign manufacturer's testing to support your certificate of compliance.
If a U.S.-based company is your importer of record, or you run your own testing program, you don't need this service.

​

Covered Standards​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CPSC standards with a resident-agent condition: 16 CFR 1203.34 bicycle helmets, 1204.13 CB base station antennas, 1205.36 walk-behind lawn mowers, 1209.39 cellulose insulation, 1210.12 cigarette lighters, 1211.25 garage door operators, 1212.12 multi-purpose lighters.
Children's products and products under other CPSC rules are not covered. Not sure where your product fits? Start with a Regulatory Pathway Assessment.

Your Responsibilities

 

​

​

 

  • Issue the certificate of compliance for your products as the importer
  • Keep the test and production records the standard requires, including in the United States where the standard says so
  • Examine the foreign manufacturer’s test records
  • Make records available to CPSC within the time the standard sets (for example, 48 hours under the bicycle helmet standard)
  • eFile certificate data at entry
  • Arrange any CBP resident agent and bond for nonresident importers (19 CFR 141.18) with your customs broker

Our Responsibilities as Your Resident Agent

​

  • Serve as your resident agent in the United States for the CPSC standard named in your designation
  • Prepare a written designation letter, signed by you and countersigned by us
  • Accept official communications and service of process for you in matters related to the covered products
  • Forward CPSC correspondence and records requests the same business day
  • Notify you of any CPSC phone or email contact
  • Provide a U.S. address, phone number and email you may list as your resident agent in your compliance and test documentation
Covered Standards

Frequently Asked Questions

​

  • Does CPSC require every foreign manufacturer to have a U.S. agent? No. The resident agent condition appears only in the seven standards listed above, and it applies to non-U.S. importers that rely on the foreign manufacturer's testing.
​
  • Is anything filed with CPSC? No. The signed designation letter goes into your compliance file. You can list us as your resident agent in your compliance and test documentation.
​
  • Can your address go on my product label or packaging? No. CPSC labels must carry the name and address of the manufacturer, importer or private labeler named in the standard. Our name and address never appear on products, labels or packaging.
​
  • Is this the same as the CBP resident agent for nonresident importers? No. That is a separate customs requirement under 19 CFR 141.18, usually arranged through your customs broker.
​
  • How does the process work? After payment, you receive a short questionnaire by email. We prepare the designation letter, you sign it, and we countersign it, usually within one business day. Everything is handled by email.

​

Scope of Service

This service covers the resident agent role under the seven CPSC standards above, plus forwarding of related CPSC correspondence. Our address may not be used for any other purpose.

​

Our address may not be used as

  • The manufacturer, importer or private labeler address on products, certification labels, packaging, manuals or listings
  • Importer of record, certifier or eFiler
  • The individual maintaining records on your certificate of compliance
  • A location for holding test records, production records or product samples
  • A recall, warranty or consumer service address

​

What to do instead

Use your U.S. importer, customs broker, testing laboratory or a regulatory consultant for certification, eFiling, records storage and recall work.
bottom of page